Toilet device

ABSTRACT

A breaking means is installed in a stagnant portion of the body of the toilet device. The breaking means has a breaking mechanism unit. The breaking mechanism unit is a cutter mechanism and has cutter members. Each of the cutter members has multiple cutter blades along its rotation axis direction. Cutter blades of adjacent cutter members mesh with each other with a small clearance kept. Because by the action of this cutter member, excrement and others including tissue paper, etc. can be cut out finely and broken, the excrement and others (solids) are made into liquid mixture in this breaking process. Because of liquid mixture, drain takes place easily so that clogging of a drain pipe can be prevented even if hardly soluble matters such as tissue paper are used.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a toilet device that can be applied tofixed type Western-style toilet, portable Western-style toilet and thelike. It relates, specifically, to a toilet device that can cut out andbreak not only excrement but also hardly soluble tissue paper, etc. todischarge them to any sewer pipe or the like by installing breakingmeans for breaking excrement and the like in a stagnant portion of thebody of the toilet device and at the same time, adopting a cuttermechanism that can cut out and break them as this breaking means.

BACKGROUND ART

The present Western style toilet has a stagnant portion to store trapwater at the bottom part of the body of the toilet device, and anyexcrement is evacuated into trapped trap water and at the same time,excrement and water-soluble toilet paper (hereinafter called excrementand others) are drained together with the trap water to the sewer-pipeside (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2004-308404).

With respect to paper used for Western-style toilets, attention is oftendrawn to use toilet paper (water-soluble paper) provided, as much aspossible. This is because the use of water-soluble toilet paper isrecommended as toilet paper in order to prevent clogging at the body ofthe toilet device or clogging at the sewer pipe. Recently, in additionto this kind of toilet paper, any paper could be used even forWestern-style toilets, so long as it is water-soluble. For example,water-soluble tissue paper, etc. which can be used in Western-styletoilets has been put on market.

On the other hand, in addition to a fixed type Western-style toilet, aportable type simplified Western-style toilet has been also known (forexample, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-325258).This portable type simplified Western-style toilet has been developedfor elderly persons who need care or physically disabled persons whofind it difficult to go to an existing toilet (Western-style toilet,etc.) in his or her house.

This portable type simplified Western-style toilet is configured into achair type one so that it can be easily provided in their private roomand they can sit on the chair type toilet by which he or she candefecate. The simplified Western-style toilet has a configurationsubstantially similar to that of the fixed type Western-style toilet.Consequently, for the portable Western-style toilet, a body of thetoilet device which has a stagnant portion to store trap water is alsoused, and after the use, the excrement and others are drained togetherwith trap water.

Even in this kind of simplified Western-style toilet, a kind of usablepaper is water-soluble paper such as toilet paper so that the excrementand others can not clog the body of the toilet device or the sewer pipe.In addition, in order to facilitate draining, some toilets have breakingmeans inside the body of the toilet device (for example, see JapanesePatent Application Publication No. 2001-275885).

And now, because in Western-style toilets in which rinse water is used,the excrement and others are drained together with trap water withoutbreaking them to the outside of the body of the toilet device, asdescribed above, any attention for use such that any paper other thantoilet paper provided should be not used is drawn and any evocationthereof is performed, but there are cases in which paper other than thatprovided is used.

For example, there is tissue paper. Disposing of tissue paper into abody of the toilet device with the tissue paper being in a condensedstate such as being crumpled into a ball, etc. is likely to give rise toany accidents such that the body of the toilet device or the sewer pipe(the exhaust pipe) is clogged.

Even water-soluble tissue paper is likely to cause similar accidents ifit is used in a large quantity. In addition, in toilet facilities whichare used by large numbers of the general public, such as lavatories,etc. in public places, improvement plans for a disposal method of usedsanitary items are called for. As one example of these improvementplans, water-soluble sanitary items, which can be disposed into existingtoilet facilities after they have been used, are sold, but when they areused together with toilet paper, etc., it takes time for water (rinsingwater such as trap water, etc.) to penetrate into them even though theyare water-soluble, so that their solidity can be not broken and they arenot always drained securely. This problem is the same in the case of thesimplified Western-style toilets.

In Patent Literature 3, a configuration to provide a simplifiedWestern-style toilet device with breaking means has been disclosed, sothat it is assumed that this configuration could be adopted for theabove-mentioned fixed type Western-style toilet. However, this breakingmeans uses rotary vanes with them being brought down sideways, and sinceonly the rotary vanes are used for breaking, the breaking means does notprovide sufficient capabilities to break not only excrement but alsokinds of water-soluble paper such as toilet paper, etc. Accordingly,when regular tissue paper and the like are used together, any treatingcase far exceeding its breaking capacity may occur. Consequently, thereis a high possibility such that they may be drained in a solid stateincluding the excrement, and therefore, it is not sufficient to improveclogging of the body of the toilet device and clogging of sewer pipe,too.

Not only in the fixed system but also in the simplified Western-styletoilet device, it is assumed that merely employing the breaking meanslike the Patent Literature 3 would raise similar problems of the fixedtype Western-style toilets.

DISCLOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention solves such the conventional problems and relates to atoilet device comprising a body of the toilet device having a stagnantportion at the bottom thereof, and a breaking means with being immersedinto trap water trapped in the stagnant portion, wherein the breakingmeans includes a breaking mechanism unit that has a cutter blade, andits driving means, and by driving the breaking mechanism unit, excrementand others which have fallen into the stagnant portion is cut out andbroken.

By installing the breaking means for performing any break-processing ofthe excrement and others such as stool, etc. in a stagnant portion ofthe body of the toilet device and at the same time, adopting a cuttermechanism (breaking mechanism unit) that can cut out and break them asthe breaking means, it is possible to cut out and break not onlyexcrement but also hardly soluble tissue paper as to be suited fordischarging them to a sewer pipe even when the hardly soluble tissuepaper and the like are used.

This invention is applicable to portable type simplified Western-styletoilets with the indoor use premised, in addition to the fixed typeWestern-style toilets.

The breaking means has cutter functions, and is constituted of abreaking mechanism unit (cutter mechanism unit) and its drive means. Thebreaking mechanism unit falls broadly into two categories. One is thecase in which the breaking mechanism unit is composed of multiplecontrarotating cutter members, and the other is the case in which thebreaking mechanism unit is composed of fixed guide members and cuttermembers (rotating members) which are mounted thereto.

The breaking mechanism unit is composed of four cutter members disposedto be placed side by side in such a manner that they can mesh with eachother. Each of the cutter members is composed by installing multipledisk-shaped cutter blades in the longitudinal direction (rotation axisdirection) thereof with a predetermined interval kept, and cutter bladesof adjacent cutter members are disposed to mesh with each other on sidesof the side surfaces thereof.

The degree of meshing is optional. When a substantially straight typecutter member is used as the cutter members, the cutter blade sizes aresubstantially same, and therefore, they mesh with each other in the samemesh depth throughout the longitudinal direction thereof. In the case ofa combination of a substantially straight type and a substantiallybobbin type of the cutter members, meshing of cutter blades graduallyvaries towards the longitudinal direction, and in such event, at thecenter part of the cutter member, the shallowest meshing takes place. Inthis combination, a cutter member with a substantially bobbin shapemeshes with other cutter member, so that a recessed portion can beformed at the nearly center part of the meshed portion of cuttermembers, which is deeper than that when cutter members of a straightshape mesh with each other, and at the same time, the tooth tip profileof each of the cutter members, which forms a substantially bobbin shape,is curved as a whole from both end sides towards the center part.Consequently, the excrement and others are easy to be collected to thisrecessed portion and the excrement and others can be effectively cut outand broken.

The cut system of the breaking mechanism unit includes a straight cut, across-cut, and a spiral cut. It is optionally chosen which type of thecutter blade is used, but the cross-cut system will be illustrated. Byusing the cutter blade of this system, it is possible to cut out andbreak the excrement and others effectively even when comparativelydifficult-to-break hardly soluble matters such as tissue paper, etc. areincluded in addition to any stool as the excrement and others.Consequently, accidents of clogging of the body of the toilet device orthe sewer pipe, etc. can be beforehand prevented.

The body of the toilet device may be provided with, above the stagnantportion into which body waste is excreted, a reducing size portion(annular flange portion) which has smaller diameter than the opening ofthe body of the toilet device, a lid for open and closure to block thisreducing size portion, and pressure-feed means to pressure-feed theexcrement and others. In such event, the lid for open and closurepreferably has such a structure that when the body waste and the likefall on the lid for open and closure, the head end part of the lid foropen and closure is separated from the edge part of the reducing sizeportion by the weight of the body waste and the like, and the body wasteautomatically falls into the stagnant portion by its own weight. By thepressure-feed means, the excrement and others can be pressure-fed to adrain pipe linked to the sewer pipe of the existing toilet. The lid foropen and closure is convenient when it is applied particularly to anysimplified Western-style toilets because drifting of foul odor of theexcrement can be eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the toilet deviceaccording to this invention for showing an important portion thereofwhen it is applied to a simplified Western style toilet;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof for showing the important portion;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cutter member whichconstitutes a breaking mechanism unit for showing an important portionthereof;

FIG. 5 is a gear arrangement diagram for showing an embodiment ofdriving means;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the simplified Western-style toiletshown in FIG. 1 for showing the use condition thereof;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram that shows an example whenwater-supply/drain hose of the simplified Western-style toilet iscoupled to an existing Western-style toilet;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view thereof for showing its importantportion;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for showing a configuration of the water-supplyinghose;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for showing a configuration of the drain hose;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a check valve forshowing an important portion thereof;

FIG. 12 is a system diagram that shows one example of the control systemused for a simplified Western-style toilet;

FIG. 13A is a waveform chart used for explaining the operation;

FIG. 13B is a waveform chart used for explaining the operation;

FIG. 13C is a waveform chart used for explaining the operation;

FIG. 13D is a waveform chart used for explaining the operation;

FIG. 13E is a waveform chart used for explaining the operation;

FIG. 14A is a waveform chart used for explaining the draining operation;

FIG. 14B is a waveform chart used for explaining the draining operation;

FIG. 14C is a waveform chart used for explaining the draining operation;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an existing Western-style toiletfor showing an example when the drain hose is coupled to the existingWestern style toilet;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram that shows a linkage example of theexisting Western-style toilet and a portable type simplifiedWestern-style toilet;

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the breakingmechanism unit for showing an important portion thereof;

FIG. 18A is a configuration diagram of still another example of thebreaking mechanism unit for showing an important portion thereof and itsschematically perspective view thereof;

FIG. 18B is a configuration diagram of still another example of thebreaking mechanism unit for showing an important portion thereof and itsschematically perspective view thereof;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a portabletype simplified Western-style toilet according to this invention forshowing an important portion thereof;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of aportable type simplified Western-style toilet according to thisinvention for showing an important portion thereof;

FIG. 21 is a front view of another embodiment of the breaking mechanismunit;

FIG. 22 is a partly omitted plan view of an important portion thereof;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a fixed typeWestern-style toilet to which the present invention is applied forshowing an important portion thereof;

FIG. 24 is an important portion block diagram for showing an example ofthe control system;

FIG. 25A is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample;

FIG. 25B is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample;

FIG. 25C is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample;

FIG. 25D is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample;

FIG. 25E is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample;

FIG. 25F is a timing chart diagram for showing the control timingexample; and

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a fixed type Western-style toiletfor showing another example of an open/close mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following will describe preferred embodiments of a toilet deviceaccording to the present invention in detail with reference to drawings.The following embodiments relate to cases in which the present inventionis applied to a simplified Western-style toilet on the assumption thatthis toilet device according to the invention is used in any privaterooms. Even in the case of usage in the private rooms, as is the case ofa fixed-type Western-style toilet, it is preferably a Western-styletoilet having a so-called warm-water washing toilet seat with a bidetfunction equipped. However, in the following description, anyexplanation in the equipment of this warm-water washing toilet seat willbe omitted.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 16 shows an example to which the present invention is applied. Thisexample indicates a case in which an existing toilet (fixed typeWestern-style toilet) 3 is provided facing a corridor 2 of a house 1. Inthe existing toilet 3, a toilet bowl 4 and a rinse water tank 5 areprovided. Along the corridor 2, a room 6 is located as a bed room inthis embodiment, and inside the room 6, for example, a bed 7 is placed.

To a simplified Western-style toilet 10, water-supplying means anddraining means are provided, and the water-supplying means is coupled tothe waterworks and the draining means is coupled to a sewer pipe (sewagesystem). In general, to couple the water-supplying means (water-supplyhose 12) and draining means (drain hose 14), the water-supply pipe anddrain pipe (sewer pipe) of existing toilet device 4 are used,respectively.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a portable toiletdevice 10 according to the invention for showing an important portionthereof. The simplified Western-style toilet 10 has a body 20 of thetoilet device. The body 20 of the toilet device has a profiledconfiguration of a funnel almost like that of a normal flush toilet (ofwestern style), but has a whole configuration of box. Because anyinterior decorations are recently required, the body 20 of the toiletdevice may be not only formed as a box but also formed as, for example,chair-type one equipped with armrests.

In order to save the weight of the body 20 of the toilet device, in thisembodiment, plastic molded body is used as the body 20 of the toiletdevice, but any other materials such as ceramics may be used to bemolded. A toilet seat 21 is mounted on the body 20 of the toilet deviceat a side of its upper opening and a cover 23 is provided for closingthe seat 21 and the upper opening.

A stagnant portion 18 of trap water, the excrement and others is formedat a bottom of the body 20 of the toilet device. A S-bent trap unit(drain portion) 22 having a profiled configuration turned down at endsthereof, which is communicated with the stagnant portion 18, is providedand a drain hose 14 is connected to a drain opening 27 provided at itsend. Thus, a connection portion 26 relative to the drain opening 27 isformed on a rear surface portion 20 b of the body 20 of the toiletdevice and an electromagnetic valve 24 acting as on-off valve is mountednear the connection portion 26 inside the body 20 of the toilet device.It is conceivable that the profiled configuration of the S-bent trapunit 22, which is turned down at ends thereof, communicated with thestagnant portion 18 includes configurations of P type, U type, bowl typeand the like in addition to the shown configuration. All of theseconfigurations cause similar effects.

The electromagnetic valve 24 is controlled so that it opens only whenthe trap water (including the excrement) in the stagnant portion 18 isdrained out of the toilet device and it closes when the toilet is notused. This is because the water is prevented from leaking.

In the vicinity of the top of the body 20 of the toilet device, on thewall surface 18 a, a water-supplying port 28 for the rinse water isprovided on a side of the S-bent trap unit 22. Between the coupling part34 provided on a rear 20 b of the main body and this water-supplyingport 28, a coupling pipe 30 is disposed. For the coupling pipe 30, abranch pipe is used, and to one coupling pipe 30 that goes to thewater-supplying port 28, an electromagnetic valve 32 is mounted tocontrol rinse water. This is because the water supply from the watersupply hose 12 coupled to the coupling part 34 may be controlled by thiselectromagnetic valve 32.

To another coupling pipe 30 branched, a rinsing hose (rinse pipe) 240 iscoupled via an electromagnetic valve 33, too. The head end part of therinsing hose 240 is provided in such a manner that it protrudes abovethe water surface of trap water in the stagnant portion 18. By waterinjection (in actuality, a jet) from this rinsing hose 240, the stagnantportion 18 and a rear surface of a lid body 212 are rinsed, which willbe described later.

It is to be noted that, between the water-supplying port 28 and the wallsurface 18 a, a rubber pipe 29 for water-leak prevention is inserted,and at the stagnant portion 18 through which the rinsing hose 240penetrates, a pipe 242 for water-leak prevention is also inserted,thereby preventing water from being leaked to the outside.

In a portion where trap water is stored at the stagnant portion 18,breaking means 40 of the excrement and others is provided. The breakingmeans 40 cuts out and breaks the excrement, toilet paper, etc.(hereinafter referred to as “excrement and others”) which are collectedinside the stagnant portion 18, and reduces their solids so that theybecome smaller as far as they possibly can do, to make them into liquidmixture, if possible, and thus, the broken excrement and others pass aspace between the breaking means 40 and the bottom wall of the stagnantportion 18, are mixed with trap water, and are drained. To cut out andbreak not only the excrement but also others (toilet paper, tissue paperincluding water soluble one, sanitary items, etc.), which are falleninto the stagnant portion 18, into appropriate sizes, a cutter mechanism(breaking mechanism unit) is adopted for the breaking means 40.

Consequently, this breaking means 40 is constituted of a breakingmechanism unit 40A and its drive means 40B (see FIG. 3). The breakingmechanism unit 40A is composed of multiple cutter members 41 (41A, 41B,. . . ) as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cuttermember 41 is configured so that a plurality of cutter blades 43 (43A,43B, 43C, . . . ) is arranged with predetermined intervals ΔL maintainedwith respect to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of a rotaryshaft 42.

The cutter blade 43 forms a disk shape as shown in FIG. 4 and hasmultiple blades 47 (47 a, 47 b, . . . ) each forming wedge shapes withthem keeping their predetermined intervals along the circumferentialdirection. For the head end part of blades 47 a, 47 b, . . . , steel isused for this embodiment, but the whole thereof may be made of stainlesssteel.

To each of the cutter blades 43, multiple through holes 48 are providedwith predetermined intervals maintained along the circumferentialdirection on the inner side of the blades 47. Because by these throughholes 48, broken liquid mixture including trap water is allowed to becirculated between both right and left sides of the cutter blades 43,the excrement and others can be smoothly drained.

Thus, the cutter members 41 configured with multiple cutter blades 43are arranged in rows and placed side by side as shown in FIG. 2. Thenumber of rows is determined by the size of the internal space in thestagnant portion 18 and the outside diameter of each of the cutterblades 43 is determined by the depth of the stagnant portion 18, etc. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 2, the breaking mechanism unit 40A is configuredby placing four rows of cutter members 41 side by side.

In a case where the cutter members 41 are arranged in rows, the cutterblades 43, 43 of adjacent cutter members 41, 41 are arranged in astaggered manner so as to meshed with (to rub on) each other with asmall clearance on their side surfaces in order to achieve easy cut-outeven though ductile material is used. If the small clearance is providedto the extent such that cutter blades rub on each other, it ispreferable to provide a clearance of about 0.05 mm. The meshing-depth ofcutter blades 43 which alternately mesh with each other is optional butin order to realize efficient cut-out and breaking, they are arranged tomesh with each other with an appropriate depth. For example, they arearranged in such a manner that the meshing-depth becomes ⅓ to ½ of thelength of the blade 47 (in a radial direction).

Rotary shafts 42 provided to the multiple cutter members 41A through 41Dare guided out to the outside via bearing units 42 a, 42 b provided inthe side wall of the stagnant portion 18 as shown in FIG. 3. The bearingunits 42 a, 42 b should have any measures to prevent water from beingleaked therefrom.

To the rotary shaft 42 on a side of the bearing unit 42 b, a drive means40B as shown in FIG. 3 is provided. The drive means 40B is composed of arotation transmission means 44 provided to this rotary shaft 42 and adriving motor 46. The driving motor 46 is fixed to a bottom plate 20 cof the body 20 of the toilet device and the rotary force of the motorshaft 46 a is transmitted to the multiple cutter members 41 via therotation transmission means 44. The rotation transmission means 44 isarranged in such a manner that gears 44A through 44D provided torelevant rotary shafts of the cutter members 41A through 41D are engagedwith each other as shown in FIG. 5 and at the same time, a gear 44Erelated to the driving motor 46 is engaged with, particularly, anintermediate gear, the gear 44B in this example.

Configuring the rotation transmission means 44 in this way allows othergears 44A through 44D to rotate along the arrows, respectively, when thegear 44E rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow. That is, the cuttermember 41A and 41B function as a pair of cutter mechanism andcontrarotate in a direction to crunch (in a direction to break in)things. Similarly, other cutter members 41C and 41D function as a pairof cutter mechanism and contrarotate in a direction to crunch things.

In addition, the cutter blades 43 are allowed to mesh with each otherwith a small clearance provided and the multiple blades 47 are providedto each of the cutter blades 43 of the cutter member 41, so that thebreaking mechanism unit 40A functions as a crosscut mechanism unit. Whenthe cutter member 41 is driven to rotate, the excrement and others arecut out and broken while being jammed into inner portion between thecutter blades 43, thereby enabling the excrement and others to beextremely finely cut out and finely broken. As a result thereof, tissuepaper, etc. tossed into the stagnant portion 18 can be finely cut out(cross-cut), of course, to say nothing of the toilet paper tossedthereinto.

In addition to this, since the breaking means 40, in particular, thebreaking mechanism unit 40A, is immersed into trap water, the breakingmechanism unit 40A is driven in water. As a result thereof, the trapwater is infiltrated into the excrement and others, and the excrementand others are broken with trap water being infiltrated thereinto, sothat it becomes much easier to break the excrement and others. Evensanitary items and the like, if they are water-soluble, can berelatively easily cut out when they are cut out by using any actions bythis infiltrating water.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the inside (upper side) of the bottom plate 20 c,a control unit 50 including a CPU, etc. is disposed. Each driving of theelectromagnetic valve 24 for drain, the electromagnetic valves 32 and 33for water-supply, the motor 46, etc. as described above is controlled ata predetermined timing merely for a predetermined period of time by thecontrol unit 50. A power switch 52 for the control unit 50 is providedon the rear 20 b of the body of the toilet device and on the top part ofthe body of the toilet device and under the toilet seat lid 23, anopen/close switch 55 (which will described later) is provided.

In the simplified Western-style toilet 10 shown in FIG. 1, the followingmechanisms are further adopted. As shown in FIG. 1, at a predeterminedposition that is located on the stagnant portion 18 in the body 20 ofthe toilet device and under the water-supply port 28, a comminutedsubstance pressure-feeding means 200 is provided to feed specifiedcompressed air to the stagnant portion 18. To a side that is above thestagnant portion 18 and that is slightly above the mounting position ofthe pressure-feeding means 200, a reducing size portion 230 is provided.On the bottom surface of the reducing size portion 230, a lid open/closemechanism 210 is provided in order to block this reducing size portion230 and hermetically seal the stagnant portion 18.

The pressure-feeding means 200 may be configured by an air compressor,and a feeding pipe 204 for this air compressor 200 is guided to a sideof the stagnant portion 18 via a mounting means 206. The mounting means206 is provided on the place above a water surface of trap water in thestagnant portion 18. The air compressor 200 is fixed on a mounting plate202 provided in the rear space 20 a of the body 20 of the toilet device.

Even in any mechanism in which compressed air is taken from the outsideof the body of the simplified Western-style toilet without the body 20of the toilet device is equipped with the air compressor 200, thesimilar effects can be expected.

The reducing size portion 230 is configured as an annular flange unit,and is protruded by a predetermined length towards an inner of thestagnant portion 18. The feeding pipe 204 described above is locatedbetween the trap water of the stagnant portion 18 and the reducing sizeportion 230.

As it can be clear from FIG. 1, the reducing size portion 230 isprovided so that its entirety is tilted slightly toward a side of theS-bent trap unit 22. On the bottom side of the reducing size portion230, the lid open/close mechanism 210 is provided that blocks thisreducing size portion 230. As the lid open/close mechanism 210, a swingtype and a slide type can be considered. FIG. 1 shows a swing-typeexample.

In this embodiment, because the lid open/close mechanism is a swingtype, the mechanism 210 for opening/closing the lid has a lid body 212,and one end of this lid body 212, the right end part in the illustratedembodiment, is made into a swing shaft part 214, and this swing shaftpart 214 is rotatably pivoted with respect to the body 20 of the toiletdevice so that the swing shaft part 214 is located on the bottom part232 of the reducing size portion 230. This pivot portion iswater-tightly pivoted with respect to the body 20 of the toilet device.

The lid body 212 is urged to obtain a state in which the circumferentialsurface thereof comes into contact with the bottom edge part 234 of thereducing size portion 230. The lid body 212 has a shape that fits in thebottom edge part 234 and at the same time, a sprig 216 for urging iswound around between the swing shaft part 214 and a wall surface of thebottom part 232 so that the lid body 212 generally comes into contactwith this bottom edge part 234 and hermetically seals the stagnantportion 18. Consequently, the breaking means 40 is shielded by the lidbody 212, and any feeling of being in danger due to disposition of thebreaking means 40 thus positioned can be suppressed.

Now, since the reducing size portion 230 is provided as to be slightlytilted towards the side of the S-bent trap unit 22, as described above,the lid body 212 itself constituting the lid open/close mechanism 210 isalso mounted as to be tilted to the side of the S-bent trap unit 22. Asshown in FIG. 6, by mounting the lid body 212 as to be tilted, theexcrement and others (illustrated by a broken line), which have fallenonto the top of the lid body 212, can be completely dropped down intothe stagnant portion 18.

The rinsing hose 240 described above is fixed so that its head end canbe positioned inside the stagnant portion 18 with it having an angle atwhich the rinsing water is injected to both of the rear side of the lidbody 212 and a part of the circumferential surface of the stagnantportion 18. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, it is mounted in aliquid-tight manner and fixed to a position near and under the swingshaft part 214 of the lid body 212.

To the body 20 of the toilet device thus configured, the water-supplyhose 12 and drain hose 14 are coupled, which are guided to the existingtoilet 3.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of the existing toilet 3. FIG. 7 illustrates anexisting toilet device 4 that is equipped with a warm-water washingtoilet seat 80. In this embodiment, a diverging pipe 84 is connected toa water pipe (water supply pipe) 82 and a first diverging port 86 isprovided to the diverging pipe 84 at a side of the water pipe 82, and isconnected with a hose 87 for the warm-water washing toilet seat. Asecond diverging port 88 is provided thereto nearer the end thereof thanthe first diverging port, and is connected with a hose 89 for the rinsewater.

In this embodiment, the diverging pipe 84 having such the divergingconfiguration is used; a check valve 90 is arranged between the firstand second diverging ports 86, 88; and a connection portion 92 forconnecting the water-supplying hose 12 is provided at a tail end of thediverging pipe 84. The connection portion 60A provided at a tip end ofthe water-supplying hose 12 is connected to this connection portion 92.The check valve 90 is roughly illustrated in the drawing so that itsfunction can be understood.

Thus, arranging the new diverging pipe 84 and attaching thewater-supplying hose 12 thereto enables the rinse water to be suppliedto the simplified Western-style toilet 10. It is because if an errorsuch that water from the hose 89 and the water-supplying hose 12 flowsbackward should happen, the water to be supplied to a side of thewarm-water washing toilet seat is prevented from being mixed with thewater flown backward, to arrange the check valve 90 between the firstand second diverging ports 86, 88.

A tank 96 filled with a sterilizing solution is further inserted to aconnection portion for the sterilizing solution at the tail end portionof the diverging pipe 84. Using the sterilizing solution enables anysanitary conditions in not only the existing toilet 3 but also thesimplified Western-style toilet 10 to be improved. The drain hose 14 maybe also washed at the same time. It is to be noted that the tank 96 hasnot always to be provided but may be suitably provided at need.

Thus, applying any water-supply system of the existing toilet allows thesimplified Western-style toilet 10 to be utilized merely by a simpleincrease in facilities relative to the diverging pipe 84.

The drain hose 14 may be arranged as to drain the waste water and thelike directly to the drain pipe, for example, the drain pipe in theexisting toilet 3 but, in a simple case, the drain hose 14 extends tothe toilet device 4 and the waste water and the like pour directly intothe toilet device 4. Alternatively, a drain outlet for drain is providedin the toilet device 4 and the drain hose 14 is connected to it so thatthe waste water and the like can pour into the toilet device 4therethrough.

An embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is an embodiment in which it is connectedto a connection portion 114 provided in the toilet device 4. In thismoment, this is accomplished by reforming a body 108 of the toiletdevice. As shown in FIG. 8, to the body 108 of the toilet device, adrain pipe 110 is included, but a drain guide port 112 is located in thebody 108 of the toilet device and above the stagnant portion and to theconnection part 114 provided on its rear side, the connection portion62B of the drain hose 14 is coupled.

In the event that the existing toilet device 4 is thus improved, ifthere is any level difference between the simplified Western-styletoilet 10 and this existing toilet device 4 and the toilet device 4 islocated at a higher position, there is a fear that the fluid mixture maybe accumulated within the drain hose 14. Consequently, pressure of theabove-mentioned air compressor 200 is adjusted in such a manner that theliquid mixture can be completely discharged from the drain hose 14.

Although it is not illustrated, it is able to configure in such a mannerthat a blocking lid that blocks the top of the stagnant portionincluding the drain guide port 112 is provided and is closed in relationto drain processing of the simplified Western-style toilet 10. In suchevent, it is preferable to adopt motorized operation for closing thisblocking lid.

When the water-supply and the drain is thus performed by utilizing theexisting toilet 3, water-supplying hose and drain hose shown in FIG. 9and follows are used. FIG. 9 shows an example of the water-supplyinghose 12 and FIG. 10 shows an example of the drain hose 14. When an end12 a of the water-supplying hose 12 is an end that is connected to aside of a water supply pipe and the other end 12 b thereof is an endthat is connected to the simplified Western-style toilet 10, the end 12a and the other end 12 b are respectively provided with connectionportions 60A, 60B, each of which has a check valve.

Similarly, of the drain hose 14, an end 14 a and the other end 14 b arerespectively provided with connection portions 62A, 62B, each of whichhas a check valve. In this moment, the end 14 a is an end that isconnected to a side of the simplified Western-style toilet 10, but theother end 14 b is an end that is connected to a side of the drain pipeor the like.

Since the water-supplying hose 12 is used for rinse water supplied tothe body 20 of the toilet device, a vinyl hose having a small diameteror the like may be used. On the other hands, since the drain hose 14enables any liquid mixture formed by breaking the excrement and the liketo be flown therein, a vinyl hose or the like having a diameter equal toor a slightly larger diameter than that of the water-supplying hose 12may be used. This is because liquid mixture with the rinse water, notsolidified excrement, is treated. FIG. 10 shows a case where the vinylhose 14 having a larger diameter than that of the water-supplying hose12 is used.

If diameters of the water-supplying hose 12 and the drain hose 14 are soselected as to be become the diameters described above, rudimentarymistake in connection manipulation such that the water-supplying hose 12is used as a drain hose or the drain hose 14 is accidentally connectedas a water-supplying hose may be certainly prevented because ofdifference in their diameters. Of course, not only in a case where hoseshaving different diameters are used but also in a case where hoseshaving same diameter are used, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, any markednames such as “Water-supplying Hose” and “Drain Hose” are stamped on asurface of each of the hoses, so that any accidental connection may becertainly prevented. Anti-standardization for shapes or forms of metalconnection fittings in the connection portions enables any accidentalconnection to be prevented. The water-supplying hose 12 and the drainhose 14 are colored with different colors so that such the difference incolors enables any accidental connection to be also prevented.

The connection portions 60 (62), each of which has a check valve, form ahollow valve operation room 64 with a rectangular profile inside a body63, as shown in FIG. 11, and a ball member 65 acting as valve action anda push spring 66 urging against it are provided in the room, therebyenabling the valve to be opened by an action of water pressure in adirection of an arrow “a”. This prevents backflows from both of thesides of the simplified Western-style toilet and the water supply pipe.

On the other hands, when the other connection portions 60B (62B) of theconnection portions 60 (62) are connected to a side of the simplifiedWestern-style toilet and a side of drain pipe of the existing toiletdevice, their internal valves are opened to become any communicatecondition in a case where the connection portions 60 (62) are connectedif projection members, not shown, each retreating the ball member 65 ofthe check valve against the push spring 66, are respectively provided inthe side of the simplified Western-style toilet and the side of thedrain pipe, or when they are not connected, their internal valves areclosed to prevent liquid in each of the hoses from being leaked tooutside.

Therefore, even if the connection portion 60A is detached while theconnection portion 60A of the water-supplying hose 12 is connected tothe water supply pipe and the connection portion 60B thereof isconnected to the side of the body 20 of the toilet device, any liquid inthe hose is not leaked; and even if the other connection portion 60B isdetached, any liquid in the hose is not leaked. Similarly, even if theused drain hose 14 is detached, any waste liquid in the hose is notleaked to outside.

FIG. 12 shows a control example in the control unit 50 provided to thesimplified Western-style toilet 10. To the above-mentioned body 20 ofthe toilet device, the power switch 52 and the open/close switch 55 areprovided, and their ON/OFF signals are supplied to the control unit 50.

The power switch 52 is turned ON when the simplified western-styletoilet 10 is provided. To the contrary, the open/close switch 55 is aswitch to be turned ON or OFF in relation to opening or closingoperation of the toilet seat lid 23 to close the upper portion of thetoilet seat 21. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment,the open/close switch 55 (open/close detection sensor switch, etc.) ismounted to the undersurface of the toilet seat lid 23 in such a mannerthat it faces the toilet seat lid 23. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, adrain switch 244 is further provided on the upper surface of a rear sideof the body 20 of the toilet device.

Each driving condition of the electromagnetic valve 24 for drain, theelectromagnetic valve 32 for water-supply, the electromagnetic valve 33for washing, the driving motor 46 for breaking, and the air compressor200, which have been described above, is controlled by the controlsignals from the control unit 50 composed by CPU.

FIGS. 13A through 13E respectively show an example of control timings.It is supposed that in a case of the simplified Western-style toilet 10,the lid body 212 that is a lid for open and closure is closed when thetoilet is not used.

The simplified Western-style toilet 10 is used after the toilet seat lid23 has been opened. The open manipulation of the toilet seat lid 23 isdetected by the open/close detection switch 55 (FIG. 13A). Bowelmovement is carried out while the toilet seat lid 23 is opened. When theexcrement and others drop down onto the lid body 212, the lid body 212is opened by their own weight and the excrement and others are droppedinto the trap water in the stagnant portion 18 (see FIG. 6). When theexcrement is dropped, the lid body 212 is automatically closed. This isbecause the lid body 212 is always urged toward a side of the reducingsize portion 230.

After the bowel movement has been finished, the toilet seat lid 23 isclosed (FIG. 13A). If it is determined that the lid is closed, anyexcrement is broken (or cut out) into fragments for a period of time Ta(FIG. 13B). It is to be noted that instead of the detection for theclosure operation of the toilet seat lid 23, a start switchcorresponding to the open/close switch 55 may be operated by any manualoperation to start such the breaking operation. The period of time Tafor breaking operation is set to a period of time when the excrement,toilet paper, tissue paper and the like may be suitably broken intofragments. It is normally set to a period of time of 20 seconds or less,preferably about 5 through 10. This is because they are suitably cut outand broken to avoid any solids or the like remaining.

When the breaking operation has been finished, an air compressor 200 isdriven to send compressed air into an interior of the stagnant portion18 which is then pressed (FIG. 13E). A period of time Tb for pressingprocess is set to a period of time when internal pressure in thestagnant portion 18 is increased up to a predetermined value (forexample, 2 atmospheric pressures). The predetermined value of theinternal pressure means a pressure such that the liquid mixture iscertainly sent by compression and drained to the existing toilet device4 through the drain hose 14. A period of time Tb when the internalpressure in the stagnant portion 18 is increased to a predeterminedvalue thereof is set in advance and this period of time Tb is counted.

When the period of time Tb has been elapsed, the electromagnetic valve24 for drain is driven while the air compressor 200 is driven, namely,the compressed air is sent to the interior of the stagnant portion 18(FIG. 13D). When the electromagnetic valve 24 for drain is driven toopen the drain opening 27, the excrement and others (liquid mixture) inthe stagnant portion 18 are sent together with the trap water at once bythe compressed air toward a side of the drain hose 14. Since the drainhose 14 is connected with the existing toilet device 4, the excrementand others cut out and broken into fragments by the breaking means 40 isdrained to a side of the existing toilet device 4.

A period of time Tc for sending-by-compression is normally set to aperiod of relatively longer time, for example, about 10 through 30seconds, in order to prevent the excrement and others from beingremained in the drain hose 14, though there may be a difference in a setlength of the drain hose 14.

When the period of time Tc has been elapsed, the electromagnetic valve24 for drain is turned off and driving of the air compressor stops(FIGS. 13D, 13E). This enables the drain opening 27 to be closed. Theelectromagnetic valve 32 for water-supply is then activated to start thewater supply to the stagnant portion 18 (FIG. 13C). A period of time Tdfor water-supply is set to a period of water supply time when the trapwater in the stagnant portion 18 reaches a predetermined amount. It isto be noted that the predetermined amount means water supplies up to anamount where a surface of the trap water exceeds a bent portion of theS-bent trap portion 22. When the water supply to the stagnant portion 18has been completed, its standby condition therefor occurs.

It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, an electromagnetic valve 33for washing is also driven with synchronization with the operation ofthe electromagnetic valve 32 for water-supply, as shown in FIG. 13C. Ifthe electromagnetic valve 33 operates, water is supplied into thestagnant portion 18 through the rinsing hose 240; the water isconcretely jet toward a rear surface of the lid body 212 and a wallsurface of the stagnant portion 18. Since, by means of this jet by therinse water, the rear surface of the lid body 212 and the wall surfaceof the stagnant portion 18 are rinsed, the lid body 212 and the interiorof the stagnant portion 18 can be always kept clean.

Such the rinsing process may be performed before the water supply to thestagnant portion 18, namely, after the excrement and others have beensent by compression and drained, not simultaneous execution of the watersupply to the stagnant portion 18 and the rinsing of the lid body 212and the like, to send and/or drain the rinse water therefor at the sametime. In this moment, the water supply to the stagnant portion 18 isthen performed after the electromagnetic valve 24 has been closed.

If the portable simplified Western-style toilet 10 is moved or removed,it is preferable to drain the trap water from the stagnant portion 18.Such the drain processing is separately performed from theabove-mentioned drain process. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 14Athrough 14C, the drain switch 244 is turned on, and the air compressor200 is then activated (FIGS. 14A, 14B). The start of the air compressor200 enables the interior of the stagnant portion 18 to be pressed (FIG.14C). After the press process over a period of time Tf has beenfinished, the electromagnetic valve 24 for drain is driven so that thedrain opening can be opened for a predetermined period of time Tg (FIG.13B).

This sending-by-compression enables the trap water to be drained fromthe stagnant portion 18. The electromagnetic valve 24 for drain isclosed with a small amount of delay (ΔTf) starting from when the drivingof the air compressor 200 stops. This causes any drain processing of thetrap water to be completed. It is to be noted that the period of time Tfmay be set to the above-mentioned period of time Tb and the period oftime Tg may be set to the period of time Tc.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the embodiment in which the connection part 114 isprovided at the existing toilet device 4 and to which the drain hose 14is coupled, but as the simplest embodiment, the drain hose 14 itself isallowed to pass under the bottom surface of the toilet seat 118 as shownin FIG. 15 and guided to the body 108 of the toilet device. In suchevent, the tip end of the drain hose 14 is expanded in width as shown inFIG. 15 to alleviate the drain pressure thereof.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 17 shows another combination example of cutter members 41. FIG. 2shows an example in which substantially straight type cutter members 41are used for all four breaking mechanisms. The substantially straighttype referred to here is a generic term that designates the case inwhich the sizes (outside diameter) of the cutter blades 43 thatconstitute the cutter members 41 are composed of the same ones.

FIG. 17 shows the case in which the breaking mechanism 40A is configuredby use of the substantially straight type cutter members and so-calledsubstantially bobbin type cutter members. In this event, thesubstantially bobbin type is a generic term that designates the case inwhich the sizes (outside diameter) of the cutter blades 43 thatconstitutes the cutter members 41 have a larger diameter on both endsides of the cutter member 41, which varies along the longitudinaldirection (rotating axis direction) from the both end sides thereoftoward the center part of the cutter member 41 as to be reducedgradually.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the first and the third cutter Members 41Aand 41C are substantially straight type ones and the second and thefourth cutter members 41B and 41D are of the substantially bobbin typeones. In such case, too, the length of the fourth cutter member 41D isshorter than others in order to fit in the shape of the stagnant portion18. In addition, needless to say, the adjacent cutter members 41 arearranged in such a manner that respective cutter blades 43 are meshedwith each other.

By using the cutter members 41 with different shapes in this way, thedegree of meshing of cutter blades 43 varies along the longitudinaldirection thereof. In this embodiment, the meshing is shallow at thecenter part thereof and becomes gradually deeper as it goes toward bothends. Consequently, nearly at the center part of the portion where thecutter members 41 having a substantially bobbin type shape mesh with thestraight type cutter member 41, a recessed portion deeper than that inthe case of embodiment 1 in which cutter members 41 having straight typeshape mesh with each other is formed, thereby enabling cutting andbreaking processing to be efficiently performed.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are examples of the breaking mechanism unit 40Awhich adopts another combination example of the cutter members 41. Inthis embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18A, substantially bobbin shape cuttermembers are used for all the four cutter members 41. In order to clarifythe meshing condition, in FIG. 18A, odd-numbered cutter members 41B and41D are shown by broken lines.

In this case, too, the meshing condition of the cutter member 41 isshallowest at the center, and deepest at both edges. Consequently, arecessed portion 900 (see FIG. 18B) deeper than that in the case shownin Embodiments 1 and 2 is formed nearly at the center of the portionwhere cutter members 41 having a substantially bobbin shape mesh witheach other, and at the same time, a tooth tip contour of each of thecutter members 41 having a substantially bobbin shape forms a curvedshape from both edge sides thereof to the center part thereof as awhole. Consequently, the excrement and others are easy to be collectedat the recessed portion 900 so that the excrement and others can beeffectively cut and broken.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 19 is a modified embodiment of a location of the breaking means 40.In the case of FIG. 1, the breaking means has been provided to thestagnant portion 18 and the multiple cutter members 41 are placed sideby side in the transverse direction.

The embodiment of FIG. 19 shows a case in which the breaking means 40 isprovided in the vicinity of an opening (coupling portion) of the S-benttrap unit 22 that is communicated to the stagnant portion 18. In thiscase, the breaking mean 40 is placed parallel to the vertical direction.The number of rows of the cutter members 41 which constitutes thebreaking mechanism unit 40A, the shape of each of the cutter members 41(outer diameter of the cutter blade 43), the numbers of cutter blades43, and the like vary depending on a diameter and an area of the opening22 a.

In the present embodiment, a case in which the breaking mechanism unit40A is composed by using two pieces (one pair) of substantially straighttype cutter members 41 will be described. The cutter member 41 has alength of less than about one half that in the case of FIG. 2. Disposingdrive means 40B for the breaking mechanism unit 40A to outside of thebody 20 of the toilet device is the same as in the case of FIG. 3.

Because, even if disposing the breaking mans 40 to the opening 22 a ofthe S-bent trap unit 22 in this way, excrement and others can be cut andbroken in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 1, the sewer pipe, etc.are free from clogging by the excrement and others. By the way, in thiscase, as the breaking means 40, the one smaller than that in the case ofFIG. 1 must be used, a period of the breaking processing time Ta is setas to be longer (about twofold) than that in the case of FIG. 1. It isto be noted that this breaking processing may be conductedsimultaneously with draining of the excrement and others and trapprocessing of the trap water.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of the breaking means 40. Thisembodiment is a case in which pairs of guide members 70 (70A, 70B) andcutter members 41 (41A, 41B) constitute the breaking mechanical unit40A. It is the case in which the breaking means 40 is provided in thestagnant portion 18.

As shown in FIG. 21, too, the pair of guide members 70A, 70B areoppositely disposed with a predetermined clearance maintained in such amanner that they face each other, and a pair of cutter members 41A and41B are rotatably disposed between them.

One guide member 70A are composed by arranging multiple guide plates 48(48 a, 48 b, . . . ) with a predetermined clearance (pitch) maintainedin the longitudinal direction thereof (i. e., a direction of a rotaryshaft of the cutter member 41) as shown in FIG. 22. They are mutuallyfixed by fixing guide shafts 45 a shown in FIG. 21.

The other guide member 70B, which is contrast to this guide member 70A,has multiple guide plates 49 (49 a, 49 b, . . . ) in the same manner andthey are arranged at a predetermined pitch, and are mutually fixed byfixing guide shafts 45 b. The guide plates 49 are arranged with half apitch deviated from the guide plates 48 of one guide member 70A. Inaddition, the guide plates 48, 49 have their tops formed into tapers 51a, 51 b in such a manner as to be directed inwards as shown in FIG. 21.For a pair of the cutter members 41A, 41B, substantially straight typecutter members are used.

The rotary shaft 42 a of one cutter member 41A is, at its both edges,pivoted by the both end guide plates 48 a, 48 n in the one guide member70A. Consequently, the portions which correspond to the rotary shaft 42a, of multiple guide plates existing in the both end guide plates 48 aand 48 b have holes each having a diameter that do not interfere withthe rotation of the rotary shaft 42 a in this embodiment. A part of therotary shaft 42 a may be cut away. Multiple cutter blades 43 thatconstitute the cutter member 41A are allowed to regulate theirarrangement pitches in such a manner that they are fitted within theclearances between the guide plates 48 (48 a, 48 b, 48 c, . . . , 48 n)with a small clearance provided.

In the similar manner, in the other cutter member 41B, the rotary shaft42 b is pivoted by both end guide plates 49 a, 49 n, which constitutethe other guide member 70B, and the multiple cutter blades 43 areallowed to regulate their arrangement pitches in such a manner that theyare fitted within the clearances between the guide plates 49 with asmall clearance provided.

The cutter blade 43 of one cutter member 41A and the cutter blade 43 ofthe other cutter member 41B are arranged so that their parts overlapwith each other, as shown in FIG. 21. For a shape of the blade (an edgeof the blade) of the cutter blade 43, saw-teeth as shown in FIG. 21 areillustrated but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Even when the breaking mechanism unit 40 a is configured in this way, asmall clearance is formed between each of the guide plates 48 and eachof the cutter blades 43 (also, between each of the guide plates 49 andeach of the cutter blades 43) and furthermore, the cutter members 41A,41B are arranged to partly overlap with each other so that a smallclearance is formed between the side surfaces, respectively, of theoverlapping cutter blades 43, 43, thereby enabling the excrement andothers to be finely cut (cross-cut) so that they can be broken intoliquid mixture by rotating the pair of cutter members 41A, 41B in adirection to mesh with each other.

Because in the guide plates 48, 49 facing each other, tapers 51 a, 51 bare formed in such a manner that things fall in towards the cuttermembers 41A, 41B, the excrement and others fallen into the stagnantportion 18 are easy to collect at a center part thereof. This enablesthe excrement and others to be effectively cut and broken.

Embodiment 6

The embodiments described have been cases in which the present inventionis applied to any portable type simplified Western-style toilets. Thefollowing will describe a case in which the present invention is appliedto any fixed type Western-style toilets.

In this case, the above-mentioned breaking means 40 is also disposed inthe stagnant portion 18. FIG. 23 shows the case in which the breakingmeans 40 that is provided with the breaking mechanism unit 40A describedin the Embodiment 1 is applied thereto.

To an upper part of the stagnant portion 180, a blocking lid 250 whichblocks a part of the stagnant portion 180 is provided. A center part ofthe blocking lid 250 is made into a predetermined opening 250 a, andother end of the blocking lid 250 has a flange unit 255 so that it canbe mounted to the inner circumferential wall 108 a of the body 108 ofthe toilet device on its both of upper and lower sides of the endsurfaces thereof.

By affixing this flange unit 255 to the inner circumferential wall 108 aby use of adhesives, etc., the blocking lid 250 can be mounted (fixed)to the body 108 of the toilet device. By locating the opening 250 anearly at the center of the blocking lid 250, the excrement and otherscan be fallen into the stagnant portion 180 without allowing them tocome into contact with the blocking lid 250.

The blocking lid 250 is removably provided to the inner circumferentialwall 108 a. This allows the blocking lid 250 to be removed to clean itperiodically, so that it can be hygienic.

On the top of the body 108 of the toilet device, a control unit 300containing a CPU is mounted. By this control unit 300, any controls,etc. for the breaking means 40 are executed. FIG. 24 shows one exampleof a control circuit system in which ON-OFF signals of the power switch225 and the open/close switch 226 (see FIG. 24) are supplied to thecontrol unit 300. In the control unit 300, controls of anelectromagnetic solenoid 117 and an electromagnetic valve 113 inaddition to a driving motor for breaking are carried out.

FIG. 26 shows a control timing example, and the blocking lid 250 iscontrolled to be normally closed. As the toilet seat lid 230 opens andloses, the open/close switch 226 is activated (turns ON and OFF) (FIG.25A and FIG. 25B). While the toilet seat lid 230 is open, the evacuationis carried out, and the toilet seat lid 230 is then closed. When it isdetected that the toilet seat lid 230 is closed, the blocking lid 250 isclosed (FIG. 25C). When this lid closure is detected, the driving motor46 is energized and breaking processing starts (FIG. 25D). The breakingprocessing referred to here is a cutting and breaking processing similarto the above cases.

When breaking processing for a period of predetermined time is finished,an electromagnetic valve 113 is opened and rinsing processing for theblocking lid 250 takes place (FIG. 25E). Upon completion of the rinsingprocessing, the blocking lid 250 is opened (FIG. 25C). Thereafter, theexisting operation button (not illustrated) provided to theWestern-style toilet is operated and the excrement and others aredrained (including trap processing of trap water) (FIG. 25F).

Thus, even when the present invention is applied to the fixed typeexisting Western-style toilets, the excrement and others includingtoilet paper, tissue paper, used sanitary items, etc. as described abovecan be cut and broken and then, drained, and thereby clogging of thesewer pipe or the like can be completely eliminated.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of a fixed type Western-style toilet towhich the present invention is applied. In the embodiment shown in FIG.26, a swing type open/close lid mechanism 260 is adopted in place of theblocking lid 250. In this embodiment, a reducing size portion 270 isprovided at an upper side of the stagnant portion 180, and to the lowersurface of the reducing size portion 270, the open/close lid mechanism260 is provided so that this reducing size portion 270 is blocked andthe stagnant portion 180 is hermetically sealed.

The reducing size portion 270 is configured as an annular flange unitand protrudes towards the inner surface of the stagnant portion 180 by apredetermined length. As it is clear from FIG. 26, the reducing sizeportion 270 is provided so that its entirety can be slightly tiltedtoward a side of the drain unit 182. On a side of lower surface of thereducing size portion 270, the open/close lid mechanism 260 that canblock this reducing size portion 270 is provided.

The open/close lid mechanism 260 is of a swing type and has a lid body262 which constitutes the open/close lid mechanism 260, and one end ofthis lid body 262, in the example of the drawing, the right end part ismade into a rotating shaft unit 264, and this rotating shaft unit 264 isswingably pivoted with respect to the body 108 of the toilet device sothat the rotating shaft unit 264 is located on a lower surface part 272of the reducing size portion 270. This pivot unit is water-tightlypivoted to the body 108 of the toilet device.

The lid body 262 is urged to bring its circumferential surface incontact with an edge part 274 of the lower surface of the reducing sizeportion 270. The lid body 262 is formed to have a shape that conforms tothe edge part 274 and, at the same time, an urging spring 276 is woundaround between the rotating shaft unit 264 and the wall surface of theunderside part 272 so that the lid body normally comes into contact withthe edge part 274 to seal the stagnant portion 180 hermetically.

If a fixed type Western-style toilet is configured in this way, whenexcrement falls onto the lid body 262, a side of the forward end of thelid body 262 opens by its own weight, and the excrement falls into thetrap water of the stagnant portion 180. When the excrement falls, thelid body 262 automatically returns to its original position by anyaction of the spring and blocks the upper part of the stagnant portion180.

When the rinsing operation button (flush valve operation button) 280 isoperated, rinse water flows into the stagnant portion 180 via the uppersurface of the lid body 262 while running around the innercircumferential surface 108 a of the body 108 of the toilet device.Because the operation condition of the rinsing button 280 is controlledby the control unit 30, when this rinsing processing is carried out, thebreaking means 40 is simultaneously driven, and the excrement which hasfallen into the breaking means 40 and toilet paper, etc. which hasflowed in together with rinse water are broken (cut and crushed).Because any sanitary items, etc. flow into the stagnant portion 180together with rinse water, driving the breaking means 40 for apredetermined time period in relation to the rinsing processing can cutand crush them to drain them.

By the way, in FIG. 26, an embodiment in which the lid body 262 is heldsubstantially horizontal in the closed state is shown, but because thereducing size portion 270 is provided to be slightly tilted to the sideof the drain unit 182 as described above, mounting the lid body 262itself which constitutes the open/close lid mechanism 260 tilted to theside of the drain unit 182 enables all the excrement and others, whichhave fallen onto the upper surface of the lid body 262, to be completelyfallen into the stagnant portion 180.

It is to be noted that a case to dispose valve unit members(electromagnetic valve, etc.), which can be remotely controlled by thecontrol unit 300, in place of the flush valve 280 in the route of afeed-water pipe, not shown, provided between the rinse water tank 5 andthe body 108 of the toilet device can be considered. In such event, asis the case of other embodiments, the driving-start time of the breakingmeans 40 and the rinse water supply time may vary appropriately. Thisenables the breaking means 40 to operate for a period of predeterminedtime and then rinse water to be supplied after breaking processing hasbeen completed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, too, it is needless to say thatto the breaking mechanism unit 40A, various kinds of breaking mechanismsshown in other examples can be applied. The same thing can be applied tothe open/close lid mechanism 260, too. In short, when the presentinvention is applied to the fixed type Western-style toilets, bydisposing at least one set of above-mentioned cutter members 41 to thestagnant portion 180 of the body 108 of the toilet device, breakingprocessing of the excrement such as stools, toilet paper, used sanitaryitems, etc. which accumulate in the stagnant portion 180 can be carriedout. In addition, by equipping the open/close lid mechanism 260 to theupper part of the stagnant portion 180, any feeling of being in dangerdue to disposing of the cutter members 41 at the stagnant portion 180and to which the user of the present Western-style toilet device issusceptible can be eased.

By the way, it is needless to describe in detail that various breakingmeans 40 shown in Embodiments 2 through 5 can be applied to the fixedtype Western-style toilets shown in Embodiments 6 and 7.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used for existing Western-style toilets andsimplified Western-style toilets as a nursing-care supporting device fornursing and personal care facilities and at-home nursing care, etc.

1. A toilet device, characterized in that the toilet device comprises: abody of the toilet device having a stagnant portion at the bottomthereof; and a breaking means installed in the stagnant portion with itbeing immersed into trap water trapped in the stagnant portion, whereinthe breaking means includes a breaking mechanism unit that has a cutterblade, and its driving means, and by driving the breaking mechanismunit, excrement and others which have fallen into the stagnant portionis cut out and broken.
 2. The toilet device according to claim 1,characterized in that the breaking mechanism unit comprises multiplecutter members each containing multiple disk-shaped cutter blades thatare configured side by side in a rotation axis direction thereof; andcutter blades of cutter members which are adjacent to each other meshwith each other with a small clearance being kept therebetween.
 3. Thetoilet device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of thecutter members has cutter blades of gradually varying with their sizes,the cutter blades being sequentially placed side by side, and any one orboth of a cutter member that has a substantially bobbin-like shape whichhas a large diameter on both end sides and gradually reduces thediameter thereof from the both end sides towards the center portion anda cutter member that has a substantially straight shape in whichmultiple cutter blades of substantially same size are sequentiallyplaced side by side is or are used.
 4. The toilet device according toclaim 2, characterized in that the small clearance is preferably aclearance of an extent that allows the cutter blades of adjacent cuttermembers to be scraped.
 5. The toilet device according to claim 1,characterized in that the breaking mechanism unit includes a pair ofguide members and a pair of cutter members; the pair of guide memberscontain multiple guide plates disposed on the longitudinal directionthereof with a predetermined pitch; and the cutter members are providedto each of the guide members and multiple cutter blades constituting thecutter members are assembled in such a manner as to enter a placebetween the guide plates of facing guide members.
 6. The toilet deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the cutter blade has astructure that employs at least any one of cut systems of a straightcut, a cross cut, and a spiral cut.
 7. The toilet device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the body of the toilet device is a fixedtype Western-style toilet or a portable type simplified Western-styletoilet.